Britain To Help In Re-settling Jamaican Deportees

KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The Jamaica government has signed a multi-million dollar agreement with the United Kingdom government to assist in improving the monitoring and management of criminal deportees.

The two countries have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) under which London would provide J$48 million (One Jamaica Dollar =US$0.01 cents) for the 18-month project, aimed at boosting the capacity of the Deportee Monitoring Unit (DMU).

The initiative, which got underway in November, will provide for the training of key personnel, and provision of equipment such as computers, cameras, printers, servers, telephone handsets, cell phones and office furniture.

The government said, the objectives of the DMU are to improve the systems of reception, processing and monitoring of deported migrants; and reduce the risk of recidivism through improved management and reintegration.

“With this project, we sincerely hope that we will be better able to execute processes relating to the rehabilitation of these individuals and most importantly, to protect the citizenry against deportees, who are likely to continue to cause harm within the society,” said retired Major General, Stewart Saunders, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security.

He said that there was a component of the program to provide the deportees with life skills and other learning opportunities to ensure that they are properly reintegrated into the society.

“We are seeking to ensure that they are gainfully employed within the society, having been properly adjusted,” he added.

Britain’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, David Fitton, said, that  London has been working with the Jamaica government to return and resettle Jamaicans, who have overstayed their time in the UK and others, who served criminal sentences.